005_Year_11_12Feb2021_ECI

Parent/Carer Bulletin

Friday 12th February 2021

Year 11

 
Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach the end of term and head into the half-term break, we can reflect back on a productive
term in challenging circumstances. On the whole, Year 11 have shown true resilience through their
engagement in remote learning. This will serve them well in the future and they should be proud of what
they have achieved.

I wanted to thank you all again for your support that you are providing for the students at home. We all
know how difficult it is to stay motivated ourselves during this time, so helping to motivate Year 11 through
this term is a great achievement. We are still unclear about the exact procedure the government will set for
how GCSE grades will be awarded this year, we eagerly await the next announcement week beginning
Monday 22nd February, where hopefully we will have all the information we need to plan for a successful
finish to Year 11. We also hope to know when students will be able to return to Uckfield College and
continue with their studies in the classroom. The next few months will provide many opportunities for your
child to show their teachers just how much they are learning, so it is essential they keep up the hard work
now and when they return after half-term.

When we are able to welcome back students into school again, we expect all students to be in full uniform.
Follow this link: ​https://www.uckfield.college/uniform​ for a reminder of our uniform policy.

As a reminder, Audible is offering students free Audio Books and students should definitely take up this great
offer. Follow this link:
https://stories.audible.com/discovery/enterprise-discovery-21122354011?ref=adbl_ent_anon_ds_ds_dccs_sb
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Sixth form enrollment​ is a process we usually start in January with our ‘futures day’. Due to students
working from home, we will delay this process and make a decision on when and how to run futures day in a
couple of weeks. We will share this information with you when we have more concrete plans from the
Government on when schools may re-open.

T​he College Pastoral Leaders continue to work extremely hard to ensure that every student's emotional and
mental health is being supported at this time. PALS are working alongside a variety of partners including;
our school counsellor, school health team, school nurse, education support, behaviour and attendance
service (ESBAS) and child and adolescent mental health service (CAHMS) to support students with a range of
interventions and therapies. However remember, your emotional and mental health is important too, there
is a range of organisations that can provide advice and guidance on the ​parent zone section of the College
website.​

If you, or anyone in the family, is feeling overwhelmed text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential support,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Yours sincerely

Toby Meanwell
Raising Engagement & Standards Director (Associate SLT)
Director of Year 11

NOTICES​ AND PREVIOUSLY SHARED INFORMATION:

Term 3 Reports are available on Edulink now.

Message from the PTA re: Easyfundraising
Did you know that whenever you buy anything online, you could be raising a free donation for Uckfield College
PTA?
There are over 4,400 retailers including John Lewis & Partners, Argos, Uswitch, eBay, M&S, Just Eat, Now TV,
Domino's Pizza and Audible ready to give a free donation every time you shop online via easyfundraising. It only
takes 2 minutes to sign up.
Plus, if you sign up and raise £5 in donations, easyfundraising will give us a bonus £5 donation.
All you have to do is:
1. Go to:
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ucpta/?invite=HRR247&referral-campaign=c2s&utm_campaign=raise-
more&utm_medium=email&utm_content=raf-e
2. Click 'support this cause' and create an account
3. Choose from over 4,400 retailers to do your online shopping as normal and our cause will receive a free
donation with every purchase you make.
Thank you for your support, you'll be helping to make a real difference to Uckfield College PTA .

Update​ from last week's "Essential information" that the public libraries are closed at the moment.
It will be of interest to some of the students who enjoy reading to know that the ​libraries are open​ for book
collections & returns - you can reserve books online and then collect them from the library.

Reading Roundup ​-​ ​World Book Day competitions!
You might have seen some of the teachers’ entries to our Extreme Reading competition starting
to appear on social media. Please encourage your child to get involved themselves over Half
Term! Here is a reminder of the two World Book Day competitions we are running:

● Extreme Reading Competition:​ Submit a photo of you reading your book in an unusual
or “extreme” setting. D​ etails here​.

● Creative Readers Competition:​ A chance to exercise those creative muscles to artistically
represent your favourite book. ​Details here​.

Students will need parental permission if taking and submitting a photo/video of themselves and MUST follow Covid
rules regarding staying in their local area and social distancing.
Recommended Read
Miss Gilroy recommends ‘Running the World’ by Nick Butter: “​An inspiring true story of one man's adventure to run
a marathon in every country in the world in less than two years. A reminder of what the human body can do when
you put your mind to it.”
Talking Point​ - Reading is power!
This year the World Book Day theme is “Reading is Power”. A good book can give us so much. It could be an
opportunity to further understand ourselves, a chance to exercise our curiosity, or it might offer us the knowledge
that we need to make decisions about our future. When was the last time you felt empowered by a book? How did
it help you?

Uckfield College finished 2nd out of all of Sussex in the first lockdown, so it would be great for our school
community to know that it is back at the start of February.

All visitors to the college must provide contact details to
reception as part of the track and trace system. Also, all
visitors have to wear face masks along with all students.
Well done to all the students who are following the new
COVID protocols so well and ensuring they have their
masks on at all times when walking in corridors.

Covid-19 related student absence - A quick reference guide for parents
Please see attached information

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline
The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline is available to answer questions about coronavirus
(COVID-19) relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this

helpline by calling:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

Covid-19 related student absence - ​A quick reference guide for parents

New Apprenticeships & Graduate Opportunities Available

See attached

Barnardo’s ‘See, Hear, Respond’ service
See, Hear, Respond is a service provided across England by Barnardo’s and other national and local community-based
organisations in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

See, Hear, Respond, provides support to children, young people and their families who aren’t currently seeing a social
worker or other agency, and who are struggling to cope with the emotional impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19). See,
Hear, Respond will support from pre-birth up to 18 years of age and those with special educational needs under the age
of 25.

See, Hear, Respond will contact every referral made, so no child is missed. Help is available in one or more of four ways:
● an online hub of support and information
● online counselling and therapy
● face-to-face support for those most affected and at risk of some of today’s most pertinent issues, such as
criminal exploitation, and
● helping children and young people reintegrate back into school

You can access via the ‘See, Hear, Respond’ service self-referral webpage or Freephone 0800 151 7015.

Job Vacancies - s​ ee link to current vacancies page here for both Support staff and Teachers
https://www.uckfield.college/vacancies

Uckfield College Life​ -​ ​November/December’s Issue
Uckfield College Life will be published once a month. W​ e have attached the Newsletter to the title above - if you
wish you can click on the title to see the newsletter. Please e-mail details to Toni Fletcher,
[email protected].​

Uckfield College Facebook - ​Uckfield College Facebook page

UCTC TWITTER- Follow us on ​Twitter @​ UckfieldCollege

Apprenticeships parent pack​ - ​October’s addition
Careermag for Parents Issue 3 Out Now! - u​ se attached link

 
Term dates​ for the Academic years 18/19 & 19/20 - h​ ttp://www.uckfield.college/termdates

Reporting Absences - S​ ee li​ nk to information on Website